Earth Science Flashcards
7 cards from real Regents practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Earth Science flashcards as text
Two igneous rocks form from the same magma, but one cools slowly underground and one cools quickly at the surface. How will their textures differ?
Answer: The slow-cooled rock will have larger crystals
Slow cooling underground allows more time for crystals to grow, resulting in coarse-grained (phaneritic) texture like granite.
Which type of front forms when a cold air mass overtakes and lifts a warm air mass, often producing heavy thunderstorms?
Answer: Cold front
A cold front occurs when dense, cold air pushes under and lifts warm air rapidly, creating steep pressure gradients and severe weather.
On a topographic map, which spacing of contour lines indicates the steepest slope?
Answer: Closely spaced contour lines
Closely spaced contour lines indicate a rapid change in elevation over a short horizontal distance, meaning a steep slope.
What is the most abundant gas in Earth's current atmosphere?
Answer: Nitrogen
Nitrogen (N₂) makes up approximately 78% of Earth's atmosphere, making it by far the most abundant gas.
Which evidence best supports the theory of continental drift?
Answer: Identical rock types and fossils found on opposite sides of the Atlantic
Matching fossils and rock formations on the coasts of South America and Africa indicate these landmasses were once joined and drifted apart.
During which moon phase does a lunar eclipse occur?
Answer: Full moon
A lunar eclipse occurs when Earth passes between the Sun and the Full Moon, casting Earth's shadow on the Moon.
Which process directly causes metamorphic rocks to form?
Answer: Heat and pressure applied to existing rock
Metamorphic rocks form when existing rocks are subjected to intense heat and/or pressure, causing minerals to recrystallize without melting.